Endless oscillations

Destined never to relax: a theoretical study on quantum systems

According to classical physics, the universe tends to equilibrium but the same does not apply to quantum systems, which are destined to shift constantly between different configurations without ever finding peace. A theoretical study conducted by SISSA and the University of Oxford illustrates this dramatic difference and explains that in order to be described correctly one-dimensional quantum systems should be thought of as being defined on discrete points in space.